The SILVER Team (PLOT)

"You're welcome," Blue replied, the gentle timbre of his voice like a salve on Red's mind. "And thank you, too. For everything." For that perfect moment, Red closed his eyes and allowed himself to melt into the warmth of not just Blue's giant chest and tree-arms, but also that warmth of friendship, of happiness... Red had been so starved of them for so long, he couldn't help but instinctively soak it up like a dried sponge. He invited the warmth in, embraced it and let it fill up his blackened, withered soul. It felt as if he'd taken his first breath in years. His lungs and chest ached, his heart raced, and every breath that followed eased the pain and discomfort more and more.

He didn't want to let go, to leave that safe, secure embrace. But soon enough, he heard the flaps of little wings and Mikhail's tiny, annoying voice calling out to them cautiously from the alcove. With one last glance up to Blue, the dumb giant, he gave another quick peck to the other's mouth before slipping out of the hold. "We're here," Red called back, making his way to their shelter without a hint of malice or annoyance in his voice. He stole a last glance back at his old rival, then trotted the rest of the way to the alcove, eager to make sure Mikhail didn't do anything rash. "Anything out there?"

Mikhail, of course, didn't question why Red and the others were out. Instead, the small bat grinned victoriously up at the ex-soldier, allowing a small bag to spill out with berries. With no wild pokemon other than himself to eat them, it made sense that the berry bushes were growing laden with them. "Sure did!" he cried, flapping to hover around his revealed loot. "Lots of good stuff here! Oran, Sitris, Aspear, you name it! And they're all delicious!"

Red gave a slightly humored chuckle, eyeing the bat's belly-- it was a bit more swollen than the last time Red had seen him. "You made sure of that, did you?"

Their moment together may have been brief, but Blue lingered over each second, still not willing to remove himself from the warmth of comfort and companionship. However, soon enough, the sound of Mikhail's squeaky voice was reaching them, the bat probably wondering why they'd been gone as long as they were. As much as Blue desired to prolong these moments, they had other things and Pokemon alike that needed their attention. He and Red made brief eye contact, and Blue contemplated giving him at least one more...you know...kiss. More like a peck, really, just one. A small one, nothing major. But before he can so much as blink, Red took the initiative and gifted Blue one more tiny kiss on the mouth before slipping away, leaving him momentarily stunned. What, were they reading each other's minds now? He really hoped his face failed to turn red again, though his dumb smile refused to go away.

"We're here," Red called out to Mikhail; Blue didn't add anything himself, figuring the little bat would take the other's word for it. The two of them hurried back to the alcove, Blue mentally taking note of how much lighter Red's voice sounded even when speaking to the Noibat that had unintentionally, yet persistently annoyed him only a week ago. Things were getting better, both between the two of them and with their Pokemon companions. Blue had to believe that they could only keep improving. The conversation he'd just went through was proof enough of that, and besides, right now he was practically glowing with optimistic energy.

The cozy old alcove didn't seem to be completely destroyed by the antics of the Pokemon, what a miracle. Blue almost snickered at the mental image of Artorias throwing a party while they were out. Speaking of whom, where was that Umbreon now? Normally, he would've showed up as soon as he and Red were back. Blue figured that he must have decided to occupy his time elsewhere while they talked, instead of waiting and dying from boredom. "Anything out there?""Sure did! Lots of good stuff here! Oran, Sitris, Aspear, you name it! And they're all delicious!"

Mikhail showed off his berry hoard, a whole rainbow of them tumbling from the bag the bat kept. Blue thought of the "delicious" comment and glanced at the bat; it seemed he went to great lengths to insure the quality. The thought brought another smile to his face."You made sure of that, did you?""Sure did! I ate 20!""Twenty, really? I bet you could finish off more than that," Blue teased, though he was pretty impressed by the Noibat's appetite. Did there happen to be a touch of Snorlax in his family? Occupied by his own personal jokes, Blue hardly noticed the approach of his Umbreon until the Dark-type brushed against his leg; it made his heart jump twenty feet into the air, but Blue played it off cool. Kind of. Hopefully nobody noticed the way he jerked his arm.

"Don't be surprised when he takes you up on that, Blue," Artorias said, though as soon as he said it, the Umbreon gave a mischievous wink in Mikhail's direction.

"Twenty, really? I bet you could finish off more than that," Blue chuckled as he followed Red into the cozy alcove. After their... happy encounter just now, Blue's happy words and tone only continued to warmth in his chest. Though he gave no other real acknowledgement of his old rival, his mouth twitched upward in a tiny smile. Mikhail giggled proudly at Blue's observation as Artorias silently made his way back to his trainer's side. Judging by the weird little flail Blue made, he hadn't expected it.

"Don't be surprised when he takes you up on that, Blue." Mikhail laughed again, hovering a little over his prized loot.

"Heck yeah I will!" he chimed before perching and staring happily at the older pokemon. "So, so, so, what are we gonna do today? Are we gonna train?" Red quirked a brow at the questions, glancing to Artorias as he went to his things to grab a few things. "Train"? He'd noticed the two going out into the nearby tunnels to... do things, but he wasn't wholly aware of what they were actually doing. Artorias was as experienced a pokemon as they came, of course, and so the kid was in good hands, but... a tiny voice prodded at the back of his mind. A voice that said... maybe... maybe he should try it?

Red shook his head free of the possibility. As much as the chance of training a dragon pokemon was intriguing, the weight of the deaths of his old pokemon was still too much, too heavy and too active. Blue had lifted much of the darkness in his heart already, of course. At least, temporarily. But... was Red ready to begin training another pokemon? It... had been four years... and he had come here to bury what he had left of his old team. Never before had he considered moving on from them, but... this did have to be it. Perhaps he could just... watch, maybe even give some pointers? His eyes stayed on the Umbreon, waiting for his reply.

"Heck yeah I will!" Mikhail is as chipper as ever, that's good to see. Artorias sits down, letting his tail rest over his paws. His stomach rumbles a bit; maybe Mikhail would save him at least a little bit of those berries. The thought makes the corners of his mouth twitch in amusement. No, he wouldn't actually ask the little bat for any of his food. Artorias would have to see about going off to search himself later on in the day.

"So, so, so, what are we gonna do today? Are we gonna train?"

Artorias' senses are keen enough to pick up on the fact that there are eyes on him like spotlights, even though he is only looking at the Noibat. Their training sessions are no secret, but at the same time, they weren't in the view of every other person here. Sometimes Laurentius would show up (usually to enthusiastically cheer Mikhail on, at least until Artorias asked the Arcanine to be quiet), but he knows Red and Blue haven't done so. Yet, anyways. His own trainer had avoided him quite a bit in the past week, but considering how cheery the two men were, that might change...

"Well, a future champion like yourself must keep up with his lessons," Artorias answers, a hint of humor still lingering in his tone. The high spirits of the two humans must have rubbed off on him, though he's being completely serious about using the day to train. He gets back up on four paws and says, "So, yes. We can train today if you'd like."

"Well, a future champion like yourself must keep up with his lessons," the Umbreon replied in a tone that reminded Red of the very few teachers he'd had over the course of his relatively short life. For a moment, he wondered how Blue, of all people, had managed to raise and train such a patient and mature pokemon when Blue had little in the way of either, especially in their youth. But of course, despite him being a prick for a long while, Blue was still an excellent trainer. It came as no surprise that his pokemon, his main pokemon even, was capable of leading and teaching. "So, yes. We can train today if you'd like."

"You mind if I join you?" Red asked in a soft voice, no hint of malice or anger present in his words. "Just to watch." What would be the harm, really? It wasn't like he was training Mikhail-- that was Artorias. It was better than patrolling an empty mountain or cleaning his guns for the trillionth time. Or possibly finding himself in another compromised position with Blue. Really, spending time with the young bat was the lesser of the evils and... he was genuinely curious to see how far the little bat had come along.

"Woo, YEAH!" For Artorias, the Noibat's excited whoop was accompanied by the suspicion that he was being watched. Sure enough, he looked over to see Blue giving him a smug grin, a look everyone in the room must be well-acquainted with. It was a look that said "good luck with that," to which Artorias shook his head in mock disapproval. He knew perfectly well how to handle a hyperactive young person, thank you very much. After all, Artorias had done the same thing with Blue for years. "I can't wait! Oh, man, what's gonna be today's lesson? Are you gonna teach me new moves? New strategies? Oh, I can't wait, I can't WAIT!"

"Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough," the Umbreon answered. It was refreshing to have someone who loved to learn; Artorias hadn't been able to take on the mentor role in...well, years, though he cannot remember how many. Blue's other Pokemon were treated as equals, not students with a lot to learn. Truthfully, the Umbreon found a sort of peace in his role as Mikhail's trainer, despite the Noibat's hyperactivity. It was almost funny how tranquil this mountain could be, after seeing so many of the horrors of the world below. I think I understand why Red wanted to be here as much as he did.

"You mind if I join you? Just to watch."

Oh? Artorias tilted his head a bit upon hearing the question; he hadn't expected Red to want to join them during a training lesson. Up until now, the man hadn't shown even a slight interest. Besides that, a specific worry gnawed at the Umbreon's heart. It could be a painful reminder for a trainer who had lost all of his beloved Pokemon. Proper training was one of the cornerstones of a relationship between a trainer and their Pokemon. Yet, Artorias knows he cannot refuse the request, no matter his own worries. There was no logical reason to, and this was a sore subject Artorias had no desire to bring up. Especially not in front of Mikhail. That left him with only one answer.

"I wouldn't mind at all." Artorias turned to Mikhail; it felt necessary to ask his opinion as well. Maybe this time he wouldn't want an audience. "What do you think?"

"I wouldn't mind at all." Artorias turned to Mikhail; it felt necessary to ask his opinion as well. Maybe this time he wouldn't want an audience. "What do you think?"

"Sure, sure, sure! Let's go, let's DO IT!" the tiny bat cheered, provoking Red's minuscule smile to broaden by a fraction. Though his pokemon's deaths were still heavy on him, for once, he didn't feel as burdened by them as he normally did. That ease pushed him to do something, anything, else that might bring him even the slightest sliver of joy. To get as much as he could right now, while he could.

"Sounds like a plan," he mumbled gently as he shifted his weight. Mikhail hooped and hollered with glee, going so far as to clamber up Red's arm and shoulder to perch on the short man's head. For a moment, Red froze, as his initial instinct was That's Pika's spot. But instead of hurling the bat off, he took a moment to push his raging anger back; he wanted to stop hurting. He wanted to stop being angry and miserable. This... This wasn't replacing them. They would always have their places in his heart, and that was all he could do for them now. But... this... doing this... might help him.

He needed help. He couldn't hold onto pride now, not after breaking down so many times to Blue. And... he didn't want to be miserable. Not when he'd just gotten his first taste of joy in four years. His soul was starved for it. He needed a break. He needed to be happy.

And that meant... letting them and his anger over them... go.

Tentatively, he reached up and lightly patted the bat's tiny fluffy body. It would be hard. He'd probably regress and turn angry over and over again, but... the brief moment he'd shared with Blue, just laughing and... being actual feeling people... he craved more. He allowed his hand to fall and consequently Mikhail to stay on his head, his expression carefully blank as he stared down at Artorias. "So where do you train?"

"Sure, sure, sure! Let's go, let's DO IT!" Well, that settled that. Artorias couldn't say he wasn't relieved; it would be a refreshing change of pace to have Red along. There was a reason he was such a famous and powerful trainer, after all. Artorias shifted his paws, feeling a light touch of nerves. Considering he was Blue's Pokemon, Red being there to see him mentor another Pokemon would be rather...unprecedented.

"Have fun, you three," Blue said from where he'd gone, casually holding a Pokeball in one hand. Artorias assumed he'd be taking care of Daisy while they were gone, seeing as the young Zubat hadn't been let out of her ball yet. The Umbreon knew his trainer too well to not gleam a bit of teasing from the words, though; Artorias fully expected to return and fall right into an elaborate prank. If not, well, he'd be very disappointed.

"Sounds like a plan." Red's voice was soft, but Artorias could still pick up on it rather easily. Sometimes, though, he wondered why Blue didn't seem to need to ask him to speak up. However, when Mikhail made a spot for himself on top of Red's head, Artorias almost spoke out to stop the bat. He waited for the man to react, tensing as he reached up to Mikhail...and let the little Noibat stay.

The Umbreon let the tension flow from him, a faint shadow of guilt creeping over him. Did he really expect so little from Red, or was it justified caution? Artorias wanted nothing more than to trust the man as much as Blue did, but it seemed that every movement towards one of the others made him wary. It wasn't easy to shake such feelings off.

"So where do you train?"

Gathering himself, Artorias mulled over the question for a second. There was no doubt in his mind that Red knew this mountain like the back of his hand, and certainly had more knowledge than the Umbreon himself. If a good spot for training was nearby, wouldn't he know about it? Artorias should have asked a lot earlier than now, but then, Red had gone three entire days the past week without talking to anyone. It was a little difficult to initiate conversation with that in the way.

At least space won't be an issue, he thought, recalling the side passage with the room (was room the right word if applied to caves? Oh, well) where their training sessions usually took place. It wasn't a terrible area, being closed off and relatively spacious, certainly not the worst place for a flying-Pokemon. If there is one thing to be said about Mt. Silver, it is that it is both cold and empty enough to feel like the caverns never end.

"I don't usually go too far from here," Artorias explained to Red, "There's a tunnel nearby with a side passage, and a singular area within that has plenty of space." He felt as if that was too vague, but of all people, Red would be the most likely to know where he was talking about. Artorias had chosen that spot specifically because it didn't branch out to other places within the mountain, but he didn't know the ins-and-outs of the other tunnels.

"I don't usually go too far from here," Artorias explained, "There's a tunnel nearby with a side passage, and a singular area within that has plenty of space." Red nodded his understanding, knowing the most likely place he was talking about. He'd done some training there himself when the rains caught him down in the base. Like they were stuck now.

"As long as there's no big attacks that could bring the tunnel down, that's a decent spot to train," Red thought aloud. "Ok. Lead the way. I'm... just here to watch."

"As long as there's no big attacks that could bring the tunnel down, that's a decent spot to train," Red mused, which Artorias silently agreed with. Luckily for the three of them, neither he nor Mikhail knew attacks sufficient enough to cause any destabilization. Since Artorias knew better than to aim a Dark Pulse at a wall, things should be fine. It did make him wonder if Red's own Pokemon were the reason he mentioned that, considering their sheer strength, though of course he didn't voice that aloud. It was simply...a passing thought.

"Ok. Lead the way. I'm... just here to watch." With that affirmation, the Umbreon took the lead; it wasn't a terribly long walk towards the usual tunnel, especially since he pretty much knew it by memory now. By now, the sight of this cavern is a relaxing one for Artorias. Like the alcove they took shelter in, it was one of the few spots in this mountain he could claim to know well.

"Alright, Mikhail. Today, the lesson will be over how to deal with Pokemon who know Protect and any form of healing technique." Artorias spoke to the Noibat after they'd had enough time to settle. He'd shown Protect before, but only as a demonstration; there'd never been a significant amount of time dedicated to it. Honestly, while the Umbreon knew Red was watching, and didn't make a big deal out of it, he did wonder what the trainer thought of his choice in today's training. He'd really been torn between this and a third installment of "Handling Rock-Types", but Artorias felt this lesson would make for a more comprehensive education. "Which, in my case, would be Moonlight. But we'll go over other methods as well."

Artorias took the lead without another word, which was welcome. Red didn't have to be led around in his own mountain, but this wasn't his event. This was really between the tiny bat and the older pokemon and he was more than willing to simply be a bystander. With one last glance back to Blue, who seemed to be caring for his own little bat, Red and the others made their way to the newly appointed Training Grounds.

Once inside the warm little room, Red moved to the side and found his usual seat: a large, flat rock that was elevated some feet off the ground and mounted against the wall. Thankfully nothing had destroyed it. In fact, the mountain remained much the same since he'd last seen it. A comforting thought. "Alright, Mikhail. Today, the lesson will be over how to deal with Pokemon who know Protect and any form of healing technique," the Umbreon began, prompting Mikhail to spring from his perch upon Red's head to glide down to the other pokemon. "Which, in my case, would be Moonlight. But we'll go over other methods as well."

"'Healing'?" Mikhail echoed. "You mean you can heal while you're fighting?" The small bat let out an squeal of delight, accompanied by frantic hopping. "That's so amazing! I bet you've never lost a fight if you're able to just heal yourself! That's so AWESOME!"

"'Healing'? You mean you can heal while you're fighting?" Mikhail's enthusiasm dialed up to eleven, the Noibat hopping in place over and over. His excitement is momentarily surprising, but then, there couldn't be that many Pokemon on this mountain with natural healing abilities. Artorias himself only had one option, and it certainly wasn't ideal. "That's so amazing! I bet you've never lost a fight if you're able to just heal yourself! That's so AWESOME!"

Well, that certainly wasn't the idea Artorias meant to convey. He didn't want Mikhail thinking he was invincible, especially not with a move like Moonlight. Well, at least this provided an ample opportunity to convey some important knowledge to his student. It was almost cathartic, being able to share the things he knew from his years of battling, even if they weren't the most complex things in the world. Artorias didn't care. It simply brought him a sort of nostalgic joy, being able to teach again.

"Being able to heal yourself is useful, yes," Artorias agreed, choosing his words in a similar fashion to stepping around glass. He didn't want to ruin Mikhail's enthusiasm, or make him think healing moves were pointless. "But it is not an instant guarantee of victory. In the past, some Pokemon were strong enough that they could defeat me with only a single hit."

Artorias didn't mind sharing his own defeats; he'd already done so with the Noibat before, and nobody can be perfect. Beyond that, Red knew perfectly well that he was, in fact, not an undefeated Pokemon. Any attempt to exaggerate his own accomplishments could be swiftly shut down, but Artorias knew they wouldn't require such drastic measures. He and Red had their disagreements, but neither of them were particularly inclined to brag. "Others had the endurance to simply wait until I didn't have the energy to keep healing myself."

"Remember, no move can be used forever, and most healing abilities won't fix a Pokemon up completely. Eventually, they'll be unable to keep restoring themselves."

Artorias could've delved into the nuances, like how poor weather conditions, items, or non-offensive moves such as Taunt could affect how a Pokemon healed, but that felt like too much information for one short lecture. There would be other chances to explain further, and Mikhail was a curious Pokemon. Chances were, he'd seek out information without being prompted. For now, a simple hypothetical before the practical demonstrations would suffice.

"Think of what moves you know, Mikhail. If the Pokemon you were fighting kept healing, what would you do?"

Watching Mikhail's unabashed glee was somehow not annoying. Red recalled when his own pokemon had had that sort of enthusiasm for training and getting stronger, when he had a rival and badges and a purpose. Back when Red had shared that enthusiasm. He knew, however, such joy was misplaced. "Being able to heal yourself is useful, yes," was Artorias' tempered response, though Red could feel the "but" around the corner. "But--" Yup. "--it is not an instant guarantee of victory. In the past, some Pokemon were strong enough that they could defeat me with only a single hit."

The revelation staggered the little bat, his already wide eyes somehow growing to comical proportions. Of course, Red already knew Artorias wasn't completely invincible. Blue and he had fought enough times in the past. Red's gaze went down at the thought of his pokemon, the guilt once more stabbing his wounded soul. It didn't hurt nearly as much as he'd anticipated, but the pain was still there. Perhaps it helped that he now had a purpose here on the mountain. That finally, he could have some closure.

He brought his eyes back up as the Umbreon continued his lesson. "Others had the endurance to simply wait until I didn't have the energy to keep healing myself. Remember, no move can be used forever, and most healing abilities won't fix a Pokemon up completely. Eventually, they'll be unable to keep restoring themselves. Think of what moves you know, Mikhail. If the Pokemon you were fighting kept healing, what would you do?"

The tiny bat, now a little more calmed from his giddy frenzy, plopped down on the craggy ground and was forced to think. Suddenly, he popped back up with a wide grin. "Ooo, I know! I could confuse them! That way, they'll keep hitting themselves instead of healing all the time!"

Not a bad answer, Red reasoned. It was unlikely the kid had any knowledge of Toxic or any other condition-inducing moves, as he was completely wild and his species probably didn't learn those kinds of moves on their own. Confusion was still pretty close, however, and while not as reliable as poisoning, was still much more helpful than just trying to batter a wall without aid. He looked to see Artorias' reaction and withheld his own opinion so that the other could continue his lesson.

Artorias awaited Mikhail's answer patiently. He had full confidence in the Noibat; while he was young and inexperienced, Mikhail was by no means stupid. The smaller Pokemon would certainly come up with something. Truth be told, there was an endearing factor to the way the bat sat on the ground during his thinking process.

Mikhail seemed proud of his answer, if his excitable movement was anything to go by. He jumped back up with a thousand-mile smile, ready to deliver the fruits of his pondering. "Ooo, I know! I could confuse them! That way, they'll keep hitting themselves instead of healing all the time!"

Mikhail certainly had a reason to be proud for his response; confusion was definitely a step in the right direction, and to caught on so quickly was certainly impressive. Artorias couldn't fault him for that particular effect not being 100% reliable, considering how his species was not of the Poison-type, and likely could not learn moves like Toxic without the assistance of man-made TMs.

"That's a good answer," Artorias said, giving a nod of approval. "There are more reliable methods, with status effects such as poison or burns, but not everyone can learn them. And besides, your suggestion helps with the second half of my lesson."

The Umbreon was a tiny bit relieved that he had been given a smooth transition into talking about Protect. For some reason, that move always seemed difficult to properly explain, especially to Pokemon that didn't have access to TMs. As helpful and innovative as those machines were, they could be a real pain at times.

"I believe I mentioned Protect alongside healing moves, yes? If it works, that move can allow a Pokemon to be shielded from the majority of attacks."

He was trying not too talk too fast, both for Mikhail's sake and his own. Artorias didn't want to slip over his own words and say something confusing. It would've been helpful if he'd already shown a demonstration of Protect, but there was only so much material one Umbreon could cover in the span of a week.

"But if you confuse them, there's a good chance they'll hurt themselves instead of defending, which will stack up with any attack you use at the same moment. If they can't heal or completely defend themselves, you'll likely have the advantage. Of course, you'll still need to make sure to dodge attacks and take as little damage as possible. Keep in mind that a lot of Pokemon who use these types of moves-myself included-can take a lot of hits, so you'll want to make sure you can outlast them."

"That strategy is partially luck-based, yes, but you're definitely on the right path for now." Artorias gave his student a reassuring smile. However, something was nagging at the back of his mind. He'd been speaking quite a bit, and there was someone else there in the room who was likely more knowledgeable than himself. Would Red feel singled out, or maybe even offended, if Artorias asked him to say something...? Well, it would only be considerate to at least find out if the man wanted to speak. Better for Artorias to make sure he was on the right track with his teachings now, than hear potential shortcomings later.

"Did you want to add anything?" Artorias asked tentatively, looking up at Red.

Red spaced out while Artorias spoke, thinking more on how training Mikhail himself might be actually enjoyable. After a bit of wiffle-waffling, Artorias said, "Did you want to add anything?"

Snapped out of his reverie like a kid caught daydreaming in school, Red replied, "Uh... No, no I think you... uh... got everything. But maybe he should spar-- that way we can see if he can actually put these lessons into practice? I can help... uhm... direct him."))

Maybe Artorias had spoken a little too much. Speaking directly to Red garnered a reaction similar to breaking a person out of a trance; had Artorias spoken too long, been too dull, or both? Wait. No, there was a simpler and less paranoid reason to consider: Red already knew all of this. He gained nothing from listening. Satisfied with that line of reasoning (but still leaving a mental reminder to not be so wordy next time), Artorias listened to what Red had to say with undiluted focus.

"Uh... No, no I think you... uh... got everything. But maybe he should spar-- that way we can see if he can actually put these lessons into practice? I can help... uhm... direct him."

The Umbreon had been thinking along similar lines. Theory was always useful, but nothing could really demonstrate a concept better than its practical application. Besides, all of their previous lessons involved mock fights so Mikhail could get a hold on what he'd been taught, and Artorias always was far from disappointed. However, the real surprise came in the form of Red offering to help in a practice battle. From everything he'd said earlier, Artorias anticipated him simply watching, but the man had a knack for subverting expectations.

"I agree. That's what we've done before," Artorias said. Looking away, he trotted a small distance away from Mikhail and Red, taking a spot by himself for their practice sparring. He turned back to face them. "Alright, Mikhail. This will be similar to our other lessons, so you'll take the first move."

"I agree. That's what we've done before," Red breathed a small sigh of relief. For some reason, he hadn't wanted to make the Umbreon think he was bored by the explanation. Red's mind just... wandered. That's all. If he were honest, that was generally the case whenever someone spoke for a long time. "Alright, Mikhail. This will be similar to our other lessons, so you'll take the first move."

The lesson went smoothly, as Mikhail was an attentive and enthusiastic student. Red's focus came in once the battle began, and he called out directions when Mikhail seemed stumped or a little frustrated. It felt natural for Red as his eyes studied Artorias and predicted moves, so much so that he edged more and more behind the little bat to his rightful spot as a trainer.

Eventually, the little bat was spent and he panted hard as he simply laid down on the cool crags beneath him. "I... I'm done..." he announced, earning a small chuckle from Red.

"Guess that means we're done," the trainer reasoned, then gently picked up the bat into his hands and turned to Artorias. "Good lesson." He offered a small smile before leading them back to their little alcove to where Blue and Daisy we waiting.

As always, Mikhail was eager to participate and learn, and he seemed to thrive alongside Red's instructions. Artorias couldn't claim to be surprised. It didn't matter that it'd been years since they'd last faced off, even in a mock battle; he remained a natural trainer, and a prodigal one at that. Despite Artorias' years experience and honed instincts, he still couldn't fully keep up with the man's predictions. Trying to judge what Red would have Mikhail do before he gave the directions kept the Umbreon on his toes, and he didn't always get it right either.

In all honesty, it felt like old times.

After some time, the poor Noibat flopped down onto the rocks, exhausted from the rather strenuous lesson; even Artorias could have done without his heavy fur heating up in that moment. He'd give up his right paw for a comfortable place to curl up and sleep right now. "I... I'm done..."

Mikhail had done a good job today, and deserved the rest. Artorias watched Red pick up the worn-out bat, his thoughts wandering to his impressions of the man working alongside Mikhail. He never lost his gift for training Pokemon, did he? Well, Artorias was not complaining. He hoped that this would provide some sort of comfort for Red, after everything that happened.

"Thank you," Artorias responded, glad to hear such a thing. He would hate to have been training Mikhail incorrectly, or god forbid, dangerously. Fortunately, both he and Mikhail happened to be with two of the world's most talented trainers. Walking alongside Red, they made their way back to the alcove. He wondered what Blue had been doing while they were gone. If they were lucky, they might get to see him feed Daisy and hear that ridiculous sweet voice Blue used for her. Artorias couldn't say that it wouldn't be funny.

Artorias' thanks, while appreciated, left Red feeling rather awkward. For so long, he hated the very sight of him and to hear the Umbreon's own voice -even through a translator- thanking him, well... it was surreal. A far better feeling than most of what he'd experienced since entering the mountain, sure, but that didn't make it any less strange. Especially since Blue and he were on... much more friendly terms.

The thought procured a light redness in his cheeks, and so he turned his mind from... that... entirely by focusing on the little bat now in his hands. On his back, with his wings draped over the edges of Red's hands and arm, Mikhail continued to pant heavily with the biggest grin on his face. Red's mouth gave the smallest hint of a smile at the sight. It was... good to see that again. Even if it wasn't one of his own pokemon.

Red stepped lightly as they traveled back to the alcove. He moved almost silently over the crags and didn't speak as he re-entered the little sanctuary, wondering what Blue had gotten up to while they were out.

During the others' venture, Blue settled on not venturing too far away from the alcove. Most of his other Pokemon were insistent on not being stuck in one place, but as it was, his Arcanine had stayed behind and was now acting as a personal, portable bed for Daisy. The Zubat rather liked the canine's soft fur, and rest in it contently. Blue wasn't surprised. She usually fell asleep not long after being fed, and with Laurentius being a Fire-type and all, he made for a nice dog-bed. Literally. Unfortunately, though he'd agreed to holding Daisy while Blue worked on other things, Laurentius was starting to look antsy.

”Look on the bright side. There's worse things than being bored,” Blue said absentmindedly, placing the last of his folded clothes in his bag. All of his belongings were in order now, just in case they needed to move somewhere quickly. Who knew Blue could be responsible? Unfortunately, he barely has anything left with him anymore other than practical items. Nothing of sentimental value, though to be fair, most things from his old life would bring back some horrible memories. Still, even a single picture of his family would be wonderful to have. It's been way too long since he's seen them...

Laurentius huffed, laying his head back down against the rocky ground. After a grand total of about ten seconds staying in one place, he glanced over at Blue. ”What are you even doing?”

”Just making sure all of my things are together,” Blue responded, reaching over to scratch at the Arcanine's ears. That perked him up considerably, the Arcanine's fluffy tail beginning to hit against the ground. Daisy's ears twitched at the sound, but she didn't make any other movements. ”No idea what I'm doing now, though.”

”Oh, I know-let's go see what Shiva's up to!”

”I'd rather be here when the others get back, Laurentius.” The Arcanine sank back down to the floor, disappointed. However, it didn't take long for him to look back up again, his ears and nose twitching wildly. Suddenly, his expression shifted to one of excitement, ridiculous grin and all.

”Hey, Artorias is back! And I bet that means Red is with him too!” Laurentius' voice no doubt carried through the entire alcove; the Arcanine had never been one with much of a grip over his own volume.

Red paused a moment as his translator chirped in his ear. ”I'd rather be here when the others get back, Laurentius.” A small smile graced Red's face when Blue's calm voice followed the translation. So they were just sitting around?

The cheery arcanine's loud voice spooked Red, making him flinch and nearly drop the little bat in his hands. Shit, oops. ”Hey, Artorias is back! And I bet that means Red is with him too!”

Wait... why was that important?

"...Am I needed?" he asked, unsure and wary of possible danger. Had something happened while they were away? He appeared in the alcove, glancing around at the still hung tarps. "Everything ok?"

Blue was surprised his translator didn't burst into flames after the Arcanine's rather loud exclamation. He would've adjusted the volume, but some of his other Pokemon were quiet enough to where he couldn't always hear them well. Artorias was one of them, and Laurentius wasn't one to mistake a scent, so Blue had to be prepared to listen (admittedly, it wasn't his strongest trait).

”Yeesh, Laurent, no need to shout,” Blue said, but the Arcanine's excitement only made him scratch the canine behind the ears again before standing up. Laurentius said the others were back, and Blue wanted to greet them, especially after that yelling bit. His Arcanine had a knack for freaking people out sometimes, even though he never meant it.

"...Am I needed?" Red couldn't be seen quite yet, but after Laurentius' warning, hearing his voice didn't come as a surprise.

”Nope!” Laurentius responded, and a good few seconds passed before he realized how weird that might have sounded. His eyes widened. ”I mean-you're always needed, it's just not anything urgent right now! I mean-”

The Arcanine seemed to give up after that, burying his face in his paws and muttering something that Blue's translator picked up as a garbled “nevermind”. Honestly, to the perspective of anyone else, Blue could see how that might be a little bit offputting. Red and Artorias finally made their appearance, the Umbreon looking around carefully, nose twitching. Blue began to make his way over to them, hoping he looked relaxed and not at all in any sort of trouble. The last thing he wanted was to make them think something happened while they were out.

"Everything ok?"

”Don't mind him, he's being a dork. Everything's fine here,” Blue answered in the embarrassed canine's stead, hoping they hadn't worried Red too much when he'd only just arrived. As per the norm, their little Noibat companion managed to catch his attention. The sight of the other man holding Mikhail was simply too adorable for words, and so Blue didn't try to put it into words. No need to ruin a great moment. ”How'd the training go?

Red stared at the frantic, embarrassed Arcanine with a silent surprise, his arms still delicately holding the passed out bat in his hands. That was... certainly something he didn't see everyday. ”Don't mind him, he's being a dork. Everything's fine here,” Blue spoke for his mumbling, grumbling pokemon, earning Red's attention. He couldn't deny the small smile that perked the corners of his mouth, despite himself. ”How'd the training go?"

"Well," was Red's soft reply. He looked back down to the tiny bat in his hands and then directed his gaze to the Umbreon at his side. "Artorias is a good teacher. I was more or less in the way."

"Well," Red replied. The sight of him with the sleeping Mikhail in his arms is still adorable, and Blue couldn't stop himself from smiling, as cheesy as that was. He wished they could have taken a picture. Hell, Blue would have even accepted an oil painting. They could have tried to hang it up on the rock wall or something. "Artorias is a good teacher. I was more or less in the way."

"I wouldn't say that. You definitely helped," Artorias said, the Umbreon now next to his trainer again. It made Blue curious as to what exactly had happened, but he refrained from asking. For now, at least. He had a feeling that he'd end up asking Red about the training session eventually, because Blue and not wanting to be in the know were not two separate concepts. Plus, with their...ahem, relationship, Red might be a little more willing to answer. That's still strange to think about. Hard to believe they'd once been at each others' throats constantly...

"Well, personally, I'm surprised I'm not hearing Mikhail say anything," Blue teased (in order to take his mind off less-comforting thoughts), way too adjusted to hearing the bat talk about this and that, and generally being an excitable little guy. He gestured back to where his own Zubat was resting on the back of a still-muttering Arcanine. "We can put him next to Daisy."

"I wouldn't say that. You definitely helped." Red's cheeks took on a small flush of color; he definitely hadn't expected the quiet and reserved pokemon to praise him so openly. He was still getting used to the fact that Blue and his entire team weren't the enemy, like he'd seen them for so, so many years. Still, Red gave a small nod of appreciation to the pokemon. After all this time of being cut off from training, there was still some joy left in the fact that he was good at it.

It felt... nice... to excel at something other than brutal murder.

"Well, personally, I'm surprised I'm not hearing Mikhail say anything." Blue's joke pulled Red away from the terrible thoughts hanging over his mind, earning the slightest of smiles from the soldier. "We can put him next to Daisy." Nodding, Red took the small, sleeping bat to the other and gently placed him down before looking back to Blue's pokemon and the man himself. Without a purpose or task, Red suddenly felt awkward and out of place, even in his own mountain. He cleared his throat as the ...ahem... other memories from the earlier time he'd been with Blue began to pop up.

"...So..." he began softly, holding his other arm as a sort of security blanket, "...what did you do while we were gone?" God, small talk was hard.